eNews Update | July/August 2012 | www.ca-greenbusinessalliance.com

Greetings!    


The California Business Alliance for a Green Economy is a growing coalition of more than 1,230 mostly small and mainstream businesses, associations and organizations from around the state who support the creation of a clean, green and efficient economy. To fulfill that mission, our priority is supporting the implementation of California's clean energy policies.


Below are recent news stories, editorials and letters, including contributions from Alliance members. In addition, we have included profiles of Alliance members and a list of upcoming events that may interest you. You can read past issues of the eNews by going here. Thank you for your continued support.

Two New Blogs Launched

 

The Alliance has launched a new blog to provide a regular voice for California's small business community on clean energy issues and updates on Alliance milestones. In her inaugural post, Alliance Director Susan Frank looks back on the early years of the Alliance, some of its early accomplishments as well as the challenges and opportunities ahead. We welcome members to submit blog contributions. To submit an article or for more information, contact [email protected].   

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Founding climate report tom bowmanmember of the Alliance, Tom Bowman, Chairman of Bowman Design Group in Signal Hill, has created a new blog to examine public attitudes about climate change and the core values that motivate people to engage in climate response. Using an exploratory approach, the TomBowman.com blog will go beyond the simplistic, often partisan rhetoric that typifies climate change discussions to reveal what Americans are already doing in response to the climate challenge, and why.

*In The NewsNewspaper  

 

*Breaking Away from the Pack. Alliance member John Arensmeyer, founder and CEO of Small Business Majority, based in Sausalito, was featured in a recent Washington Post interview where he described the practical, non-ideological thinking of the small business community on a range of national policy issues including clean energy and climate change. Arensmeyer said, "Clean energy is a huge economic engine for this country, for big and small businesses, and yet the policies that certain groups push seem to be supported only by traditional fossil fuel companies - not even all big businesses, much less any small businesses." 

 

*Green Industry Lauds AB 32, Low Carbon Fuel Standard. A story in the Long Beach Business Journal highlights the impacts and opportunities of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard in the wake of two negative industry-funded studies. Alliance member Tom Bowman of Bowman Design Group refuted the study's findings by saying, "California has been attracting more green tech investment by far than any other state in the nation and that's largely because of the policies put in place here." 

         

*Cheaper, Cleaner Fuels with Low Carbon StandardThe Sacramento Business Journal reported on the national release of a series of studies from scientists at six of the nation's leading research institutions, including UC Davis, that finds that fuels will be cleaner and cheaper in the future if the U.S. adopts a national low carbon fuel standard. The studies were released at a bipartisan briefing on Capitol Hill.   


*Why California is Still the Place for Business. The San Diego Union Tribune re-printed this op-ed published in the North County Times in June. "Polluters and their friends have made a blood sport out of knocking California's economy and regulatory climate," argued Alliance member David Steel, President and CEO of the U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce, based in San Diego. "But facts are stubborn things. And here's one that hasn't changed: California employs more Americans and has more businesses than any other state. Despite the national recession and state budget challenges, the Golden State continues to be a fertile place for innovation and business growth."

Announcements from Alliance Members 

  

 

  

 coolcalifornia.org 

Ten Alliance Members won CoolCalifornia Awards which are given to California businesses that have taken actions to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and promote climate-friendly practices.

 

Alliance Member CoolCA Winners include:

-Aqua-Flo Supply, Goleta (see profile below)

-Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa, Sausalito

-Light and Motion Industries, Monterey

-Minagar & Associates, Inc., Irvine

-Pizza Salad-The Organic Choice, Thousand Oaks

-Recon Recycling, San Diego

-Sapphos Environmental, Inc., Pasadena

-Sun Harbor Marina, San Diego

-Three Squares, Inc., Santa Monica

-Virtually Basic, Citrus Heights


"These small business leaders from across the state prove that it only takes a few simple steps to be more sustainable," said ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols. "They each demonstrated that making smart climate-friendly choices is good for the environment and for their bottom line." 


The 16 CoolCA award winners were selected from 78 competitive applicants, representing a variety of business sectors. These businesses took an array of actions to save money and improve their operations, facilities and practices while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

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paramount solar horizontal logo Roseville-based Paramount Solar (part of Paramount Solutions) is looking to hire 60 new positions this summer. The "60 jobs in 60 days" campaign kicked off with a job fair at company headquarters. Officials said jobs range from entry level to experienced sales positions to operations management posts. Paramount Solar, a division of Paramount Equity, bills itself as one of the largest residential solar companies in California. To learn more visit www.paramountsolar.com/jobs.

Event Highlights

   green schools summit logo

green college summit 

  

Green Schools and Community Colleges
Summits & Expo Coming Soon

 

On September 27 and 28, the Green California Schools Summit and the Green California Community Colleges Summit will take place concurrently at the Pasadena Convention Center in Southern California. 

 

Each conference will have its own complete education program, with seminars, full-day workshops, tours and special events addressing best practices in advancing sustainability at their campuses, schools and districts. 

 

The vibrant education programs will have a strong focus on innovative financing mechanisms for energy efficiency, renewable energy and other green building projects. Green curriculum and new aspects of workforce development, along with ways to engage students in green campus projects will also be addressed. Attendees who register for educational sessions at one event will have access to the sessions, workshops and panels at both Summits.

 

The two events will share a single Expo, featuring over 100 booths and an array of special events. They will also share a General Session with keynote and featured speakers and the popular Green Schools and Community Colleges Leadership Awards reception and ceremony.

 

Keynotes and exhibit hall are free. For information and to register for the summits, go to www.green-technology.org.

 

For Alliance Members, enter promo code GBA to receive a 20 percent discount on registration.

Event Highlights

   

  

reff west logoRenewable Energy Finance Forum West returns to San Francisco on September 27-28 for its fifth edition. Over 400 high-level attendees will debate the latest trends in renewable energy financing and give practical takeaway advice on how to move your projects forward.

  

Part of the global REFF series that includes REFF-Wall St, the nation's largest annual event for renewable energy finance, REFF-West has been uniting senior financiers, investors and clean energy executives from across the U.S. each year since 2008.

Covering a range of renewable and clean energy technologies, with a particular focus on developments in the Western U.S., topics covered at REFF-West include project financing, venture capital, renewable power generation, emerging commercial technologies, financing smaller projects, equity financing and established technologies. The conference also offers an unparalleled networking opportunity, allowing you to meet senior representatives from both the energy and financial sectors who are focusing on renewables and clean technologies.     

 

The 2012 agenda has been revamped to reflect the changing state of the renewable energy industry. For the first time, REFF-West will feature a major new session on the role of the U.S. military in the development of renewable energy both as an innovator and as a customer. Infrastructure financing will also be featured on this year's program, including commentary on clean transportation and smart grid deployment.

Member Profile 

  

 

aqua flo logo

Aqua-Flo Supply of Goleta has established itself as an environmental leader in California and the world. As noted above, they have recently been recognized as a CoolCA Climate Leader Award Winner.  

Aqua-Flo is committed to providing environmentally responsible products and solutions on a daily basis. 
They offer value-added services to their customers including free training seminars, weather-based controller certification, job site evaluations, lighting demos and consulting among other services.

 

Maintaining the vision of founder Ken Fay, Aqua-Flo Supply remains a family-owned business committed to Exceptional Customer Service. Since 1967, Aqua-Flo Supply has brought the latest in irrigation technology and landscape materials. In addition, Aqua-Flo offers outdoor lighting, plumbing supplies, electrical supplies, construction material, pool and pond supplies and much, much more! 

Best,
SF signature
Susan Frank
Director, California Business Alliance for a Green Economy
Upcoming Events 
 

- Aug. 23-24: EV Symposium

hosted by Silicon Valley Leadership Group           

(Palo Alto) 

 

- Aug. 28-29: Women in Green Forum hosted by Three Squares Inc.     
(Santa Monica)  

 

 - Sept. 13: gen(NEXT)5 

hosted by Generation Water

(Los Angeles)  


- Sept. 27-28: Renewable Energy Finance Forum (REFF) (West) (San Francisco)

  

 - Sept. 27-28: Green Schools and Commmunity Colleges Summits & Expo hosted by Green Technology

(Pasadena)

 

- Oct 4-5: SoCal Energy Summit 2012 hosted by Burke/Rix Communications

(Palm Springs) 

 

- Oct 10: Tools and Tips on B Corps Community Event hosted by SBC LA (Santa Monica)

 

- Oct. 16-18: Eighth Annual California Clean Energy Roundtable   (Laguna Beach)   By Invitation Only

 

- Nov. 10-11: Green Festival (San Francisco)

 

- Nov. 12-14: Behavior, Energy & Climate Conference 
(Sacramento)

  

- Nov. 14-16: Greenbuild

(San Francisco)

 

- Nov. 17-18: Green Festival 

(Los Angeles) 

 

- Feb. 13-15, 2013: Solar Power-Gen 2013  
(San Diego) 

 

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Send Us Your Event Notices  

If you have events you would like to submit for a calendar listing, email the name of the event, date, location and a brief description to [email protected].

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